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I'll not pinch her ears, nor trezd on her paws,
Lest I should provoke her to use her sharp claws;

Good Neighbor Toad's Outing

Hopping, hopping, hopping,
Goes good Neighbor Toad,
Not a moment stopping
In the dusty road.
"Neighbor, beg your pardon,
But I'd like to know

Why you've left your garden,
Where your flowers grow.
"Don't you think, old Neighbor,
Good, and grave, and wise,
That you ought to labor,
Catching bugs and flies?

"Don't you think the flowers

Need to have you round,'
Through the flitting hours,

To keep them safe and sound?"

"Little Girl, don't worry

Soon I'm coming back.
See how fast I hurry
O'er the dusty track!

"I will do my duty

To each plant and flower,
So they'll bloom in beauty
Under sun and shower!

"But just a little outing

Though I never shirk! -
Makes me feel like shouting,
Makes me feel like work!"

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I never will vex her, nor make her displeased, For pussies don't like to be worried or teased.

The Little Helper

That's what I am, for every day
My grandpa calls me so,
And as I've always lived with him.
I think he ought to know.

I find his hat and cane for him
When they get out of sight,
And put his slippers in their place,
And bring them out at night.

I look about and see a lot

Of things to tell to him,

Because my eyes are young and bright
And his are old and dim.

I very often go to walk

With him along the street,

And stand close to him when he talks
With people that we meet.

And he has told me many times
To be a lady true.

And give a proper answer back
When I am spoken to.

So now I do not turn my head
And twist my bonnet-string,
But when folks speak to me I speak
As p'lite as anything.

I'm such a comfort and a help

To grandpa every day,

I don't know what he'd ever do
If I should go away!

-Mary Hanson

T

A Department for Story Tellers Children's Stories - The Animal Type I

Laura F. Kready

Author of "A Study of Fairy Tales"

(Book rights reserved)

HE animal tale is one of the most interesting types of children's stories, not only in its development, but also in its illustrations. The beast tale is a very old form. It was the story of some successful primitive hunt or of some primitive man's experience with animals in which he looked up to the beast as a brother superior to himself in strength, endurance, swiftness or cunning. Such are the old folk-tales, like the German "Musicians of Bremen," the English "Scrapefoot," the Cossack "Straw Ox," or the Norse "True and Untrue," printed in PRIMARY EDUCATION.

The animal folk-tale presents many interesting examples. But the animal folk-tale must be passed over here, since the most interesting tales of this class have been listed for the grades and described briefly in the author's "Fairy Tale Studies for Elementary Teachers." This subject has been treated also in the first fairy-tale book, "A Study of Fairy Tales." Suffice it to call to mind among animal folk-tales some of the best, cleverest and sprightliest of tales, such as "Chicken Licken," the Jataka "The Foolish Rabbit," the French "Drakesbill," the Scandinavian "Sheep and the Pig," the Spanish "Medio Pollito," the Norse "Three Billy Goats," and the English "Three Pigs"

and "Three Bears" for the little children. While for the older children, among the many might be mentioned the Punjab "The Jackal and the Partridge," which gives this very interesting definition of a friend: "A friend is one who can make me laugh, make me cry, give me a good dinner, or save my life if need be; but unless he have sincerity I will have none of him." "The King of the Crocodiles" and "The Rat's Wedding" are good Hindu tales, while among the Japanese tales are included "The Quarrel of the Monkey and the Crab," "The Sagacious Boar," and "The Monkey and the Jelly-fish." Then we have the Scandinavian "Three Dogs, Holdfast, Tear and Quick," and Andersen's "Tinder-box," the Norse "Dapplegrim" and the Russian "Fairy Craw-Fish," while among North American Indian tales, which are especially rich in animal types, two very pleasing tales are "The Broken Wing," an eagle story displaying much humanity, and "The Legend of Mount Rainier," an Indian tale of the Pacific Northwest, containing sacred otters, published in Popular Educator for September. Among animal folk-tales, too, we must not forget "The Uncle Remus Tales," which in modern times have been collected in the south of this country by Joel Chandler Harris.. These are humorous and so full of a sense of life that they appeal to children of all ages.

A modern folk-tale which is a re-telling of two old folktales, is "The Cock, the Mouse, and the Little Red Hen," by Felicité Lefèvre, illustrated by Tony Sarg. Here neither tale is given exactly as the old tale, but rather as some clever child with a fine imigination would improvise details. The bright green of the houses, the tawny yellow of the Foxes, the gay feathers of the Cock, the white clouds and blue sky, make this a delightful and beautiful book for the child just beginning to read. Indeed, the book could be uséd admirably as a supplementary reading text for first grade children. For the pictures interpret the text so definitely and on so many pages, only a very little reading accompanies an illustration, while the beauty of the color-tones in the pictures would aid in training a color sense and a taste for beauty.

But to return to the development of the animal tale. Following the folk-tales, later in more civilized society,

when men became interested in problems of conduct, animals were introduced to point the moral of the tale. Then we have the fable, such as the "Fables of Æsop" or the "Fables of Bidpai," or later the "Fables of La Fontaine" and of "John Gray." Associated with the fables were Proverbs, moral truths which, because they embody the practical bits of experience and tested wisdom of the race, have a universal appeal and are popular to-day. In the fable, the gnomic truth of a proverb was amplified into the concrete action of a story that was brief and intense, by means of animal characters endowed with human traits.

With the introduction of printing into England through Caxton, "Esop's Fables," which Caxton printed about 1484 from the European collection of Heinrich Stainhöwel, became popular in England. Naturally there followed in the wake of this text a popularity of the fable form, and in Puritan times, of the moral tale. But the Caxton "Esop" was only one expression of the previous currency of the fable and proverb during the Middle Ages. The monks of the thirteenth century made the teaching, of natural history subservient to religion. They spoke of the habits of individual animals and then found spiritual lore in them. The works of Francois de Sales, with their fabled properties of animals, are of this sort: "Goats are said to breathe by the ears, not by the nostrils; so does the human heart by hearing the thoughts of others." The distichs of Cato were used in the monastic schools, and not to know his Cato was the mark of Middle Age ignorance. A volume of "Moral Proverbs," by Christine de Pise, which was printed by Caxton, had also been in use as a reading book in the monastic schools.

In the early Middle Ages the personality of the animals. became less prominent and the animal characters became types of humanity. Such was "Reynard the Fox," in which we have fable and folk-tale united with literature. The custom of giving names to animals, as Reynard, Bruin, and Tibert, was current in Lorraine, the province where "Reynard" is supposed to have originated, about 11501170. Other names, such as Chanticleer the Cock and. Noble the Lion, were given because of a quality. The French artist who wrote "Reynard" gave to the personal. adventures of the beasts an underlying meaning; the classic is really a novel of the adventures of a comonwealth of beasts.

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"Reynard the Fox" shared with 'Esop's Fables" Middle Age popularity. With the printing of Caxton's edition in 1481, the tale became current in England. Its. increased popularity is indicated by the very fine chap-book of 1780, which was a condensed history of the first part and by the numerous tales of Reynard that appeared following it, in all lands. Like “Robinson Crusoe,”“Reynard the Fox" had a wonderful influence upon contemporary literature.

During the dreary period of children's literature, from Caxton's printing to about 1660, the history of the proverb and the fable is bound up with the history of the alphabet. As Mrs. E. M. Field has said, in "The Child and His Book":

"Once this hero (Great A and his merry men) was an important and even a somewhat awful personage. Men treasured him under horn as in a glass house; they bound him up in prayer-books, and signed themselves with the sacred sign of their faith before beginning to unravel his sacred lore. Later generations dissevered him more and more from these holy associations; he became continually

less and less connected with the mysteries of religion, and more with instructive histories of good and bad children. Then they fixed him on square wooden blocks or joined him to gaudy illustrations, that he might represent Ass in an alphabet of animals, or Affability in a series of virtues, or stand for an Archer or an Apple-pie, till, finally the audacious pencil of a Cruikshank fears not to assail him, and he and his henchmen can no longer hope to inspire awe, for they have become Comic."

till at last they all fell on him and tore him limb from limb, and as poor Tray was with him, he met with his death at the same time."

Moral

By this fable you see how dangerous it is to be in company with bad boys. Tray was a quiet, harmless dog, and hurt nobody, but, etc. Given in "The Child and His Book." Mrs. E. M. Field

-

Children's books, during the period just spoken of, in cluded the "Horn-book," little "A B C tracts," the "Book About 1770 a new departure was made by Benjamin of Hours," and later "Battledore" and "Spelling Book." Collins of Salisbury, printer, who began publishing the The fable did not appear among the Christ-row of the "Battledore" for children. This was a three-leaved card "Horn-book," with its Syllabarium, Creed, and Lord's which folded up into an oblong, pocket-book shape, conPrayer. Nor in the "A B C tracts," with the Ten Com-taining, besides the alphabet, numerals and syllables, easy mandments, Graces, Gloria Patria, and short Catechism, reading lessons, wood-cuts, and sometimes a fable or which were printed under royal license up to 1605. Nor in didactic story. The backs of the "Battledore" were generthe "Primer" or "Book of Hours," which contained a ally decorated with Dutch paper, having colored flowers on calendar marked with church holidays, Alphabets, and a gold ground. Those by Collins, Newbery, Darton and Syllabarium, followed by counsels in verse. This was the Harvey were often illustrated with many pictures of animals. reign of "The Tragical Death of A Apple Pye," published In "Banbury Chap-Books," by Edwin Pearson, Reader, by Marshall. Occasionally Spelling-books, such as Coote's London, on pp. 28, 29, 30 and 31, are given some of the "English Schoolmaster," 1597, would supplement the animal illustrations used by Rusher in his "Banbury "Horn-Book" or "ABC" with a few simple reading lessons Battledore," "Galloping Guide to A B C," "Primers," and of words of one syllable. The fable and the moral tale "Spelling-Books." gradually crept into these, such as in later years, "The English Spelling-Book," by William Mavor, illustrated by Kate Greenaway, which, following its word study and little moral stories of the division of words into syllables, contains some "Select Tales," as "The Dog and the Shadow," "The Milk-woman and Her Pail," and "The Hare and the Tortoise," a moral tale, "William and Thomas," and a chapter of "Moral Observations." However, there were editions of Esop" in Latin and English used in the schools at the same time as the "Obis Pictus" of Comenius. But at the time of Milton Puritan influence was very severe with the child and all tale and fable for pure pleasure were

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One of the first books written for boys and girls was by John Bunyan, 1628-88, the author of "Pilgrim's Progress,' entitled "Divine Emblems." This was turned into a Primer with additions, in 1686. The following verses "Upon the Frog," No. 31 of its Emblems, may well be taken as an example of the Puritan child's animal tale, with its moral appended:

Upon the Frog

The Frog by nature is both damp and cold,
Her mouth is large, her belly much will hold,
She sits somewhat ascending, loves to be
Croaking in gardens tho' unpleasantly.

Comparison

The hypocrite is like unto this frog;

As like as is the Puppy to the Dog.

He is of nature Cold, his Mouth is wide

To prate, and at true Goodness to deride.

He mounts his head, as if he was above

The World, when yet 'tis that which has his Love,
And though he seeks in Churches for to croak,
He neither loveth Jesus, nor His Yoke.

- Given in "The Child and His Book," Mrs. E. M. Field

Another early book of special interest as to the animal tale, is "The Child's New Plaything, "1743, perhaps by Dr. Isaac Watts. After a few cheerful alphabets, etc., and simple religious precepts, it contained the following little story with moral complete:

"Once on a time two dogs went out to walk. Tray was a good dog, and would not hurt the least thing in the world, but Snap was cross, and would snarl and bite at all that came in his way. At last they came to a town. All the dogs came round them. Tray hurt none of them, but Snap would grin at one, snarl at the next, and bite a third,

Following later than "Reynard the Fox," the beast tale took the form of narratives of hunters, where the interest centered in the excitement of the hunt and in the victory of the hunter. This has been parodied by Randolph Caldecott in "The Three Jovial Huntsmen." This is one

selection in the two volumes of his "Collection of Pictures
and Songs," produced in modern times. Among the other
tales of these books are included the animal types, "The
Frog He Would A-Wooing Go," Goldsmith's "Elegy on a
Mad Dog," "John Gilpin's Ride," and "The Farmer's Boy."
With the thirst for universal knowledge in the days following
Bacon, there gradually grew a desire to learn about animals.
natural history developed.
With the growth of the scientific spirit the interest in
natural history developed. In his "Thoughts on Educa-
tion," John Locke, in 1691, suggested that when a child
begins to read, "some easy pleasant book like 'Æsop's
Fables' or 'Reynard the Fox,' with pictures, if possible,
should be put into his hands." With the publication of
"Perrault's Fairy Tales" in 1697, the fairy tale for the child
was announced to the world, and with it came the fable
and the animal tale.

In England John Newbery was the publisher who sensed this growth of his day and from 1744-1802 Newbery and his successors began to publish two hundred pleasant little books for children. One of the most famous of these books and an animal tale for children, was "Tommy Trip's History of Beasts and Birds," written by Oliver Goldsmith, published by John Newbery. The edition of 1779 by Saint, of Newcastle, was illustrated with charming engravings by the famous Thomas Bewick, whose animal illustrations have never been surpassed. With the revival of wood-cutting which now began, and with the number of engravers who constituted the School of Bewick, a new impetus was given to the animal tale, as perhaps the most attractive form suited for engraving. In Goldsmith's book, the first tale was "History of Tom Trip and His Dog Jowler." Then followed short sketches of lion, dog, peacock and squirrel The cuts of the animals were followed by suitable verses, such as this rather sly one appended to "The Monkey":

The beau, allow'd himself to deck,
A perfect monkey would be,
But that his tail hangs from his neck,
The monkey's where it should be.

With "The Bison" were the following lines:

The Bison, tho' neither
Engaging nor young,

Like a flatt'rer can lick you To death with his tongue.

With "The Cuckoo" were these lines of decorative spelling:

The cuckoo comes to cheer the spring,
And early every morn does sing;
The nightingale, secure and snug,

The evening charms with Jug, jug, jug.

The book contained some ingenious stories, such as: "The Fox, when troubled with fleas, takes a bit of wool in his mouth, and goes gradually down into the water till only his nose is exposed. The fleas jump upon the wool, and then he lets it drop." The book contained also a story of Coryleg the great giant, and the well-known verses, "Three children sliding on the ice."

The publication of Rousseau's "Emile" in 1762 was revolutionary. The direction of thought was turned to the human and an attempt made to give the child nature that which was suited to it. Authors like Thomas Day and the Edgeworths, who followed Rousseau's ideals and spread them to England, immediately planned to give the child a literature more suited to his nature. This was the time of the rise of the realistic story in England. But among the realistic stories written in these early days, while not properly beast tales, there were many which show children closely associated with animals.

Thomas Day's "History of Little Jack," 1788, was one of the most interesting stories and a very popular one, written to teach the moral that "it is of little consequence how a man comes into the world provided he behaves well and discharges his duty when he is in it." Little Jack was a foundling, nursed by a goat to whom he was very devoted, and later he obtained a pet monkey. He was reared by an old man on a common, became a blacksmith, then a soldier, then a refugee cast on a desert island, and then a prisoner of the Tartars. Among the Tartars his genius in saddlery raised him to high favor with the Khan. He came home a rich man and built a house on the original common. "Little Jack" was especially interesting as one of the stories emulating "Robinson Crusoe," so that altogether it is a very good typical story of its day. In spite of its moral, it does not lack interest and action and the character Jack is very pleasing.

"About this time the poor goat which had nursed Jack so faithfully grew ill and died. He tended her with the greatest affection and assiduity during her illness, brought her the freshest herbs for food, and would frequently support her head for hours together upon his knees. But it was all in vain; he lost his poor mammy, as he used to call her, and was for some time inconsolable; for Jack, though his knowledge was bounded, had an uncommon degree of gratitude and affection in his temper. He was not able to talk as finely about love, tenderness, and sensibility as many other little boys that have enjoyed greater advantages of education, but he felt the reality of them in his heart, and thought it so natural to love everything that loves us that he never even suspected it was possible to do otherwise. The poor goat was buried in the old man's garden, and thither little Jack would often come and call upon his poor mammy Nan, and ask her why she had left him.

"After a variety of questions and conversations, the showman, who probably wanted to be rid of his monkey, proposed to Jack to purchase him for half a crown. Jack could not resist the temptation of being master of such a droll, diverting animal, and therefore agreed to the bargain. But when he was left alone with his purchase, whom he led along by a chain, he soon began to repent his haste, and knew not how to dispose of him. As there was, however, no remedy, Jack brought him carefully home and confined him safe in an outhouse which was not applied to any use. In this situation he kept him several days without accident,

and frequently visited him at his leisure hours with apples, nuts, and such other presents as he could procure. Among the other tricks which the monkey had been taught to perform, he would rise upon his hind legs at the word of command and bow with the greatest politeness to the company."- From "The History of Little Jack," in "OldFashioned Tales," by E. V. Lucas

In "Sandford and Merton," 1783, Day's most famous story, written to illustrate a method of education, noted for its contribution of amusement, information, fable, story, anecdote, science and morals, and perhaps the most popular book of its time next to "Robinson Crusoe," Harry and Tommy are continually having adventures with animals. "The History of Two Dogs" is Tommy's first reading lesson, and Harry read "Androcles and the Lion." In the book the boys are taught about the kite, the lion, deer, fox, bear, care for chickens, lamb, tame elephants, white bear, seal, and other animals. Two of the most amusing episodes are Tommy's attempt to tame wild animals and his catastrophe with the pig, and his attempt to go sledging, Eskimo fashion, with Cæsar, and a chair for a sledge.

The History of Two Dogs

"In a part of the world, where there are many strong and fierce wild beasts, a poor man happened to bring up two puppies of that kind which is most valued for size and courage. As they appeared to possess more than common strength and agility, he thought that he should make an acceptable present to his landlord, who was a rich man living in a great city, by giving him one of them, called Jowler; while he brought up the other, named Keeper, to guard his own flocks.

"From this time the manner of living was entirely altered between the brother whelps-Jowler was sent into a plentiful kitchen, where he quickly became the favorite of all the servants, who diverted themselves with his little tricks and wanton gambols, and rewarded him with great quantities of pot-liquor and broken victuals; by which means, as he was stuffing from morning till night, he increased considerably in size, and grew sleek and comely. He was, indeed, rather unwieldly, and so cowardly that he would run away from a dog only half as big as himself. He was also much addicted to gluttony, and was often beaten for the thefts he committed in the pantry; but as he had learned to fawn upon the footmen, and would stand upon his hind legs to beg, when he was ordered, and, besides this, would fetch and carry, he was much caressed by all the neighborhood.

"Keeper, in the mean time, who lived at a cottage in the country, neither fared so well, looked so plump, nor had learned all these pretty little tricks to recommend him; but as his master was too poor to maintain anything that was not useful, and was obliged to be always in the air, subject to all sorts of weather, and laboring hard for a livelihood, Keeper grew hardy, active, and diligent. He was also exposed to incessant danger from the wolves, from whom he had received many a severe bite, while guarding the flocks. These continual combats gave him such intrepidity, that no enemy could make him turn his back. His care and assiduity so well defended the sheep of his master, that not one had ever been missing since they were placed under his protection. His honesty too was so great that no temptation could overpower it; and though he was left alone in the kitchen while the meat was roasting, he never attempted to taste it, but received with thankfulness whatever his master chose to give him. From living always in the air, he had become so hardy that no tempest could drive him to shelter, when he ought to be employed in watching the flocks; and he would plunge into the most rapid river, in the coldest weather of the winter, at the slightest sign from his master.

"About this time it happened that the landlord of the

poor man went to examine his estate in the country, and brought Jowler with him to the place of his birth. On his arrival there he could not help viewing the rough, ragged appearance of Keeper, and his awkward look, which discovered nothing of the address he so much admired in Jowler. This opinion, however, was altered by means of an accident which happened to him. As he was one day walking in a thick wood, with no other company than the two dogs, a hungry wolf, with eyes that sparkled like fire, bristling hair, and a horrid snarl that made the gentle man tremble, rushed out of a neighboring thicket, and seemed ready to devour him. The unfortunate man gave himself over for lost, especially when he saw that his faithful Jowler, instead of coming to his assistance, ran sneaking away, with his tail between his legs, howling with fear. But in this moment of despair, the undaunted Keeper, who had followed him humbly and unobserved, at a distance, flew to his assistance, and attacked the wolf with so much courage and skill, that he was compelled to exert all his strength in his own defence. The battle was long and bloody; but, in the end, Keeper laid the wolf dead at his feet, though not without receiving several severe wounds himself, and presenting a bloody and mangled spectacle to the eyes of his master, who came up at that instant. The gentleman was filled with joy for his escape, and gratitude to his valiant deliverer; having learned by his own experience, that appearances are not always to be trusted, and that great virtues and good dispositions may sometimes be found in cottages, while they may be totally wanting among the great.

"The gentleman was so pleased with the noble behavior of Keeper, that he requested the poor man to make him a present of the dog. With this request, though with some. reluctance, the farmer complied. Keeper was therefore taken to the city, where he was caressed and fed by everybody; and the disgraced Jowler was left at the cottage, with strict injunctions to the man to hang him up, as a worthless, unprofitable cur.

"As soon as the gentleman had departed, the poor man was going to execute his commission; but, considering the noble size and comely look of the dog, and, above all, being moved with pity for the poor animal, who wagged his tail, and licked his new master's feet, just as he was putting the cord about his neck, he determined to spare his life, and see whether a different treatment might not produce different manners. From this day, Jowler was in every respect treated as his brother Keeper had been before. He was fed but scantily; and, from this spare diet, he soon grew more active and fond of exercise. The first shower he was in, he ran away as he had been accustomed to do, and sneaked to the fireside; but the farmer's wife soon drove him out of doors, and compelled him to bear the rigor of the weather. In consequence of this, he daily became more vigorous and hardy, and in a few months regarded cold and rain no more than though he had been brought up in the country.

"Changed as he already was, in many respects, for the better, he still retained an insurmountable dread of wild beasts; till one day, as he was wandering through a wood alone, he was attacked by a large and fierce wolf, who, jumping out of a thicket, seized him by the neck with fury. Jowler would fain have run, but his enemy was too swift and violent to suffer him to escape. Necessity makes even cowards brave. Jowler being thus stopped in his retreat, turned upon his enemy, and, very luckily, seizing him by the throat, strangled him in an instant. His master then coming up, and having witnessed his exploit, praised him, and stroked him with a degree of fondness he had never done before. Animated by this victory, and by the approbation of his master, Jowler, from that time, became as brave as he had before been pusillanimous; and there was very soon no dog in the country who was so great a terror to beasts of prey.

"In the meantime, Keeper, instead of hunting wild beasts, or looking after sheep, did nothing but eat and sleep, which he was permitted to do from a remembrance of his past services. As all qualities of mind and body are lost, if not continually exercised, he soon ceased to be that hardy, courageous animal he was before; and he acquired all the faults which are the consequences of idleness and gluttony.

"About this time the gentleman went again into the country, and, taking his dog with him, was willing that he should exercise his prowess once more against his ancient enemies, the wolves. Accordingly, the country-people having quickly found one in a neighboring wood, the gentleman went thither with Keeper, expecting to see him behave as he had done the year before. But how great was his surprise, when, at the first onset, he saw his beloved dog run away with every mark of timidity! At this moment, another dog sprang forward, and seizing the wolf with the greatest intrepidity, after a bloody contest, left him dead upon the ground. The gentleman could not help lamenting the cowardice of his favorite, and admiring the noble spirit of the other dog, whom, to his infinite surprise, he found to be the same Jowler that he had discarded the year before. 'I now see,' said he to the farmer, 'that it is in vain to expect courage in those who live a life of indolence and repose; and that constant exercise and proper discipline are frequently able to change contemptible characters into good ones."- From "The History of Sandford and Merton,” by Thomas Day

Among "Maria Edgeworth's Tales," contemporary with "Sandford and Merton," giving very good portrayals of the life of the times, and the best literary realistic tales that have been written for children, were a few tales in which animals played a conspicuous part in close association with children, "Little Dog Trusty," "Rosamund and Her Rabbit," and "Simple Susan and Her Pet Lamb." "The White Pigeon" is a very interesting story of a carrier-pigeon belonging to a boy, Brian O'Neill, of their adventures, and how the service of the pigeon and the boy's honesty finally won for the poor boy's father the hostelry of a new inn bearing a beautifully painted sign, "The White Pigeon." In "Evenings at Home," by Mrs. Barbauld, 1743-1825, and Dr. John Aiken, 1747-1822, a collection for the instruction of children and a book which formed part of the library of the child of its time, are many stories of animals, fables, etc. Among the most interesting might be mentioned "The History and Adventures of a Cat," "The Travelled Ant," "The Goose and the Horse," "The Mouse," "Lapdog," and "Monkey," "The Council of Quadrupeds," "The Rat with a Bell," etc. "The Transmigrations of Indur," one of its most noted tales, shows a life spent as different animals, changing to antelope, whale, bee, and mastiff. One of its numbers is "The Farmyard Journal," also quoted in "Forgotten Tales of Long Ago," by E. V. Lucas.

Journal

"June 10th. Last night we had a dreadful alarm. A violent scream was heard from the hen-roost; the geese all set up a cackle, and the dogs barked. Ned, the boy who lies over the stable, jumped up and ran into the yard, when he observed a fox galloping away with a chicken in his mouth, and the dogs in full chase after him. They could not overtake him, and soon returned. Upon further examination, the large white cock was found lying on the ground, all bloody, with his comb torn almost off, and his feathers all ruffled, and the speckled hen and three chickens lay dead beside him. The cock recovered, but appeared terribly frightened. It seems that the fox had jumped over the garden hedge, and then, crossing part of the yard behind the straw, had crept into the hen-roost through a broken pale. John the carpenter was sent for, to make all fast, and prevent the like mischief again."

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